Redistricting Plan Would Move 10 Ward 6 ANC Commissioners to other Wards

Redistricting Plan Would Move 10 Ward 6 ANC Commissioners to other Wards

by Larry Janezich

Posted November 29, 2021

The proposed redrawing of Ward 6 boundaries will move six ANC commissioners on or near Capitol Hill to Wards 7 and 8.  It will also move four Ward 6 ANC6E commissioners in Shaw and Mt. Vernon Square into Ward 2. 

Capitol Hill Corner regularly covers ANC6A, 6B, and 6D.  Here are the commissioners in those ANCs who would be affected:

• 6A08 – Brian Alcorn – to Ward 7 (the new boundaries splits Alcorn’s single member district and he lives in the half that will go to Ward 7)
• 6B10 – Denise Krepp – to Ward 7 – (the whole of her single member district would go to Ward 7)
• 6B09 – Alison Horn – to Ward 7 – (the whole of her single member district would to Ward 7)
• 6B07 – Edward Ryder – to Ward 7 (the new boundaries bisect Ryder’s single member district and he lives in the half that will go to Ward 7)
• 6B06 – Corey Holman – to Ward 7 (the new boundaries narrowly puts Holman’s residence in Ward 7, leaving the most of the residents in his single member district in Ward 6)
• 6D07 – Edward Daniels – to Ward 8 – (the whole of his single member district moves to Ward 8)

Both ANC6A and ANC6B are holding special meetings on the City Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee plan to move parts of those ANCs into Ward 7.

On Wednesday, December 1, ANC6B will hold a virtual Special Call Meeting on Ward Redistricting at 7:30pm.  CM Charles Allen will attend.  To join the meeting, go here:  https://bit.ly/2ZAqocB 

Thursday, December 2, ANC6A will hold a virtual Special Meeting on Redistricting at 7:00pm. To join the meeting, go here:  https://bit.ly/3p95vNI   

CHC asked commissioners to comment on the special meetings and the proposed redistricting map.

Commissioner Corey Holman:  When the three discussionmaps did not include changes south of Pennsylvania Avenue, many of those residents disengaged from the process and their voices deserve to be heard.  Moving Ward 7 west of the river must serve those residents best and the current map fails to do that…the area west of the river would be too small for a functional ANC.  The three discussion maps were the product of an apolitical process.   Once politics got involved we ended up with a bad map. 

Commissioner Denise Krepp:  The proposed DC Council redistricting plan is shocking for two reasons. First, the plan deliberately divides a 100 year old community, violating the Council’s mandate in preserving neighborhoods.  Second, Councilmember Allen supports it, leading neighbors to question why Allen isn’t fighting to keep Hilleast in Ward 6. Why is he willing to lose Hilleast instead of Eastern Market?”  [Editor’s Note: CM Allen said that he was surprised to learn that someone was trying to speak for him and attributing to him a position which he has publicly stated the opposite of numerous times.] 

Commissioner Edward Ryder:  I was disappointed to see portions of my SMD moved to Ward 7 in the “final” redistricting map …when those areas had not been included in the draft discussion maps…many residents felt blindsided…..  While I do not oppose our area becoming part of Ward 7, I think there can be improvements made to the current map…the portion of Ward 7 west of the river is not big enough and I worry about it becoming a forgotten corner without sufficient representation at an ANC level.  Speaking for my SMD, I do not want to see our area split along Potomac Avenue.  There are several issues with using Potomac Avenue as the dividing line…it splits Potomac Gardens and Hopkins between two wards.  While both are separate and have different needs and issues, having both…in the same ward, and ideally same SMD (as they are now), can help ensure that common needs …can be jointly addressed….

Commissioner Alison Horn:  At this point, it appears highly likely that the DC Council will pass a map that redistricts 6B09 to Ward 7. Councilmember Silverman said often in the public hearings that change is difficult, but change we must.  My position continues to be that the Council should either leave current 6B09 in Ward 6, which it seems they’re not inclined to do, or move the line far enough West to make a viable full ANC commission of west of the River Ward 7 to continue to work on traffic safety, zoning, etc.  The map passed by the committee isn’t great, in my opinion, because the Ward 7 population is nearly the bare minimum allowable & the West of the River Ward 7 population is barely large enough for an ANC.  If they must move the line they should move it even further West to encompass more of the institutions 6B09 residents frequent.

Here’s the schedule for redistricting:

• December 7, 2021: First vote by the full Council on the ward redistricting bill
• December 21, 2021: Second vote on the ward redistricting bill
• December 2021: Ward Task Forces (which provide recommendations on ANC redistricting) start meeting
• February 2022: Ward Task Forces report out recommendations
• May 2022: Subcommittee mark-up of the ANC redistricting bill
• June 2022: Council votes on the ANC redistricting bill